The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-09
THE NEW POLYaAmY LAW.

Inc Dill passed ny congress 10 iacill'
tate the detection and prosecution Of
polygamy, and to restore the civil
power the church has usurped in
Uah, underwent some important
changes before it became law, and it
is OF interest to know what lis. pro-
visions are, for the kilograms will have
much 10 say about 1t when the Nor
mons begin the resistance to it they
will slubbornly make. The new law
dissolves the Mormon corporations,
prescribes strict oath for voters, en-
powers the President to appoint GER
tain officers, sbolishes woman eut-
frsge, define, the dover right Of
widows. and declares illegitimats chill
dren Incapable OF inheriting. The
Mormon Legislature made their
church q corporation; that act
is annulled, and this involves
the winding up of Its affairs
aud the disposition of its property.
This action Of Congress has been
thought harIh, but 1t is a mere result
OF the Mormon's ordinary disregard Of
the law. A law Of Congress Of 10 2
requires that no religious corporation
in the Territories shall acquire or bold
more than 5000 worth Of real estate,
and that any excess Of that amount
shall be forfeited and escheat to the
United States" Spite Of this law the
Mormons rolled their church properly
mp into the millions. Under this law,
which the new law euiorces sgainst
the Mormon Church and the Mormon
Emigration 8 Society, those co porationt
will wind up according to law, all law.
ful debts and Gains paid out of the
ss;ets, II there is any remainder II
esohsats TO the United States, and the
new law devotes II to the use Of he
U .Nh common schools. Such church
bulldogs, pprsonsges and bur
ial grounds he'd they will
be allowed to retain. The
amount rem aiming VIII an the winding
up is done Is not expected to be much
The Mormons have had plentiful
warning, and the effects in theil
hands, it Is believed, will be found to
be distributed where they will do the
priests the most good. The voters
oath Is intended to exclu ie polyga
mists from voting, but there are rea
sons to believe they may take 1t. The
voter must swear that he will support
the constitution, faithfully obey the
laws, especially this law and the Ed
muuds law, and that he "will not di
rectly or indirectly aid or sbet, coun
sci or advise, any other person to com
nit the crimes defined and forbidden
In those laws" Pubic officers anC
Jurors must also take this oath, auC
all who take IL must, If married, Civ,
the name Of their wife. Many officer
are elective, the President sppointi
the Pr bate Judges and the Terri
torial Supreme Court the School Com
missioner, who must forbid the use o
seciarian and unsuitable books
Widows ara TO have a third part o
their late husbands property, a pro
vision that will be a sharp thorn il
the side Of polygamists. A wife car
be called to teJtiiy against her polygs
nous husband. Against adultery tn
penalties are severe. mo lille 6 timat
child shall hereafter be entitled" say
the bill, "to inherit from his or he
father, or 10 receive any distributiv
share in the estate of his or he
father" aud every marrisge, cor cert
mony In the nature OF o marrisg
ceremony" to be formally certifi
and recorded in the Probate Court
This provision Of registration is a
excellent one, and ought to have bee
In the first pOlysamy law. The ~
interferes with no mans religion Q
mode Of worship, only with the abul
Of disobeying the law under pretenS
OF religion, for the bigamist an
polygam;st Is as much q law breAke
} although In a different way, as III
, torgsr or the ballot box stuifer.